gimmesomeoven5.0
Baked Mac and Cheese
This baked mac and cheese is ultra-creamy with sharp cheddar and Gruyère, topped with golden garlicky panko, and baked until bubbly and perfectly crisp around the edges.
👥 4 Servings⏱️ Prep & Cook: 45 min⏳ Prep: 20 min🔥 Cook: 25 min👤 Ali📖 gimmesomeoven
🥘 Ingredients
Check off ingredients as you prepare them:
🍳 Cookware
- ●pot
- ●skillet
- ●whisk
- ●oven
- ●pan
📝 Preparation Steps
1
Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Cook the macaroni until just al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
2
Make the roux. Heat a 10-inch oven-safe skillet (I used cast iron) over medium heat. Add the butter and melt completely. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1–⏱️ 2 minutes, whisking constantly, until smooth and lightly golden.
3
Build the sauce. Slowly whisk in the warmed milk until smooth. Add the garlic powder, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and Dijon mustard. Continue cooking, whisking often, for 4–⏱️ 5 minutes, until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
garlic powder1 teaspoon(8 ounces) freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese2 cups(4 ounces) freshly grated Gruyère cheese (or more cheddar)1 cup
4
Add the cheese. Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the cheddar, Gruyère, and Parmesan until fully melted and smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
5
Stir in the pasta. Add the cooked macaroni directly to the skillet and stir until evenly coated in the cheese sauce.
6
Make the garlicky panko topping. In a small skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the panko, minced garlic, and salt. Cook, stirring frequently, for 2–⏱️ 3 minutes, until golden and fragrant. Remove from heat immediately to prevent burning.
7
Top the mac and cheese. Sprinkle the toasted panko evenly over the macaroni.
8
Bake. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20–⏱️ 25 minutes, until bubbly around the edges. If the panko topping starts to get too dark, just gently lay a sheet of foil over the top of the pan.
9
Finish and serve. Sprinkle with fresh parsley. Serve warm and enjoy!
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